CVE-2016-0165
Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Does this matter?
Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 13 July 2023). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise.
Description
The kernel-mode driver in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT 8.1, and Windows 10 Gold and 1511 allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0143 and CVE-2016-0167.
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 13.68% probability · 96th percentile
- Public exploits
- 1 in Exploit-DB · first 1 March 2018
- CISA KEV
- Listed 22 June 2023 · due 13 July 2023
- Affected
- microsoft/windows 10 1507 · microsoft/windows 10 1511 · microsoft/windows 7 · microsoft/windows 8.1 · microsoft/windows rt 8.1 · microsoft/windows server 2008 · microsoft/windows server 2012 · microsoft/windows vista
- Source
- secure@microsoft.com
EPSS 13.7% since 30 October 2026; no change recorded yet. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
CISA notes
Apply updates per vendor instructions. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-039; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-0165
Public exploits (1)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
References
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035529Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035532Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-039Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44480/Product, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035529Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035532Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-039Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44480/Product, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-0165US Government Resource
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.